Doris M. Birch/Wheeler/Carter - Her Later Years

Doris was born on 24 Mar 1901 in Orland, Glenn Co., CA.  There she grew up and attended local schools.  Before she graduated from Orland High School, she fell in love with a young man from Corning, a few miles to the north.  This young man was Harry St. Clare WHEELER who was soon serving in the US Navy in France during WW I.  He would return in the Spring of 1919 and they married on 7 Aug 1920 at Orland.  With a brief sojourn in Ventura, CA, they would raise their family in Corning, where Doris would spend most of the rest of her life.  She had 4 living children with St. Clare before he died in 1939.  She spent many years as a widow raising her children.  On 30 Nov 1958 Doris married John William CARTER at Corning and they enjoyed 18 years of marriage before John died in 1976.  Doris returned to the familiar state of widowhood for the rest of her life.  She had to leave Corning in 1998 as her health continued to fail.  She spent her last years being well cared for in a skilled nursing facility in Williams, CA, where she died peacefully on 20 Nov 2002; her age at death was 101 years, 7 months and 27 days.  On 24 Nov. her funeral service was held at the Hall Brothers Chapel, Corning, with retired Rev. Ellis Martin officiating.  On a clear windy Valley day she was laid to rest in the Wheeler plot in the far west edge of Sunset Hill Cemetery east of Corning.  (For more about Doris & her family click here - for the poem read at her funeral, click here - for her obituary in the local paper, click here.) 


Her high school year book photo wearing the Navy jumper given to her by her future husband.

Young Doris looks forward with a smile.

She poses for this single wedding photo on her August wedding day.

The newlyweds - Doris & St. Clare Wheeler.

With St. Clare & Doris in the center behind the tree, we see the full wedding group in front of Doris' parents' Orland home.

Doris with her first born, Claire.

Doris poses with her young daughter Janice.

Here is a blowup from the previous photo.

After getting her family raised, Doris worked seasonally in a local olive plant.

Here we find Doris after her 2nd marriage to John Carter.

John and Doris visit family in Wheatland, CA, in 1970.

Doris loved her grand & great grand children - they all loved her too. Here Kent & Kirk Wheeler visit Grandma. 

One of Doris' few portraits.

Doris outside her Toomes Street home in Corning.

Dressed up for some occasion. 

Doris in her later years, but still able to enjoy her independence in her Corning home.

A photo taken at one of her many birthday gatherings.

Doris on her 98th birthday.

            To Her Early Years Album            To Her 1958 Wedding Album

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